Azam Khan's derogatory remarks against PM Modi: Court in Uttar Pradesh orders fresh probe

A court on Thursday came down heavily on police for its shoddy probe into a case against former Uttar Pradesh minister Azam Khan, and directed a fresh investigation into it.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Arvind Mishra also asked the district police chief to initiate action against the investigating officer, J P Tyagi, for not acting judiciously by filing a closure report in the case.

The case pertains to Khan, the Rampur MLA, making derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah in the run-up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

On April 10, 2014, an FIR was registered against Khan, then a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government, under sections 153-A (promoting enmity between communities ), 2095-A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) and 505-2 (speeches creating hatred between classes) of the IPC.

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The FIR was registered based on a complaint by the election panel.

The court has rejected the final report and ordered the SHO of the Rampur City police station to initiate fresh investigation into the case. 

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